Making it Happen in 2015: Perspective and Aim

Hello blog.  It's been one year and I miss writing here!  Without further ado, let the external processing begin.  :)

Tomorrow is February 1, but it's like January 1 to me.  The celebrating of Christmas, New Year's and Graham's birthday are behind, the Christmas clean-up and operation organization behind. February 1 seems like the perfect time for a fresh start. Resolutions are not my thing.  Attainable, realistic goals are absolutely my thing.  The only problem is that attainable and realistic=waiting to come up with the perfect plan.  Which never happens.  So this year I am approaching things differently.  I'm ready and I'm diving in.    

The last ten years have been a whirlwind of pregnancy, babies, graduate school, home updates, moves and everyday living in between all of that.  The blissful, the challenging, and everything in-between.  My (unwritten) goals in this season have been to survive (and sustain my people) and be present.  I'm happy to say, I've succeeded!  Such an over-achiever I am.  :)  In all seriousness, realistic expectations are the key to contentment, I am convinced of this.  Contentment is good, but I find that contentment can transition into complacency, and that is not good.  But dreams.  Dreams are in another category.  I've prided myself in practicality. After all practical is safe, good, and way less risky.  I've never been comfortable with the idea of dreaming, because what if my dreams don't come to fruition?  I'll be disappointed.  Plus, FEARS. All of the fears. What if I risk to much, lose to much in the process? The "what if's", the "might have been's" the "shouldn't have's" and on and on.  So I've subconsciously categorized the concept of dreaming as something for creatives and risk-takers.   Dreaming, being open to God's purposes and plans, are my focus in setting goals again. 

In this season with small children at home, I've found it challenging to set goals with 1)little "quiet" time to think and plan 2) needs and practicality trumping wants/wishes/dreams 3)a waning ability to focus combined with the sea of information available on the internet which provide ample opportunity to fritter away every last ounce of spare time-which wasn't much to begin with. I start out shopping for a book one minute and the next thing I know, Lydia is awake from her nap and I still have 10 things left to be done.  And then I feel resentful towards the kids for the lack of productivity. Craziness!  My brain gets constipated with the amount of "should's" and "want to's" and "gotta's" that fill my short term memory.  

I've been reading Lara Casey's "Make it Happen" and per her suggestion, I am looking back at 2014 to begin the process of goal setting.  I believe the tools in this book and in Lara's power sheets are going to have a laxative effect on my brain.  It's no surprise to anyone who knows me well that I am illustrating my thought process with potty talk.  Ha!  So here I sit, combing through my Instagram feed and hard drive for some reflection and perspective. 

My aim for 2015:

1.  Carve out weekly time to pray/think/plan/dream.

2.  Work the plan with diligence and grace.  

3.  Be open-handed with said plan--surrendered--knowing that God's good purposes will prevail. 

Peace

It had been a rough day.  The kind of day where I just needed to take a shower, wash the day down the drain, kind of day.  We were going to head over to Wednesday night supper and Bible study and I had not showered in days.  So, I headed upstairs while Lydia napped and the others (including Dan) were hanging out downstairs.

Within two minutes I hear a tap tapping on the door.  "Maaaaaama."  Silence.  And again, the same sequence.  I love my Millie girl, but I was craving quiet so desperately!  And so, it went on for the duration of my sacred shower time.

I opened the door, and the top photo is what I saw.  :) "Hi, Momma."  I asked her if she was ok.  She said, "I have a secret to tell you."  And then she climbed up and whispered "you are the best momma ever."  Oh this girl!  :)

Sickies

I am so grateful that we have enjoyed good health so far this fall and winter.  The last few weeks have been rough!  Lydia had RSV for 8 days and now it's the Flu and stomach virus--all under one roof.  Here is a little chart I made to keep up with our Tamiflu dosages.  Graham tested positive for the flu, so he will take two doses per day for five days.  The rest of us take (prophylactic) once per day for ten days.  Poor Millie has the stomach bug, but I am grateful that she is now old enough to (mostly) make it to a receptacle of some kind.   Hoping that we'll be on the mend soon.

Reading Big Nate comics while sipping o.j. through donkey teeth.  It's good to be a nine year old boy.

Quotes...the crack the whole family up edition.

Pahk the Cah in Hahvahd Yahd.(Translation:  Park your car in the Harvard Yard.)  -Camille

*****

Me:  Camille, did you empty all of the tooth flossers out into the bathroom drawer?
Camille:  {smirk} No.
Dan: {hiding his face because he's laughing}
Me:  Camille, be honest.  Did you do that?
Camille:  Yes.
Me:  Thank you for being honest.  Now come out of bed and clean it up.
Camille:  Ok, Momma, here I come. I'm coming to fix it.

*****

Trying to beat Mom in Just Dance 2 (Wii Game) is like trying to beat Kevin Durant (in basketball) in Adidas shoes while you're barefoot.  -Graham

*****

{In his best radio announcer voice} Hello.  You're listening to Moody radio.  And I'm moody.   -Graham

*****

Moooom!  Graham said he's going to nail my boyfriend.  -Camille

*****

Ah... goo.  -Lydia

Happy and Sleepy

(3 days later) I am looking at my previous blog post (about going to the dentist) and cracking up.

I learned that I can post to the blog from my new iphone (which is ways smarter than I am-ha!)  Anyway, I posted around 11:00pm while laying in bed nursing Lydia.  I literally fell asleep in the middle of posting!  When I dozed off I opened my eyes, phone still in hand, and pressed post before I got up to put my phone away.  Today when I read it, I realize I didn't even finish writing the story of our day as I intended, and I'm not compelled to go back and do it now!  ha ha!  :) This is life right now.  I have SO many photos + words  + memories that I want to get down before I forget, but I am completely wrapped up in our days and when my head hits the pillow, I'm out like a light!  It's good.  Having these four little miracles to focus my energies on is so good.  The best thing that's ever happened to me, actually!  :)  Thank you, Lord!

Victory!

The inevitable was a reality today.  A full morning of activities... Just me and our four children. And we did great!! :)  here's the crew, keeping the dentist in business today.  No cavities!  

So brave!  Milie sat patiently.   

Easter Celebrations

On the Saturday before Easter, the girls got their baths and hair blow dried topped off by manicures and pedicures.  Here they are selecting their favorite colors.  :)

Momma's salon is open!  :)  Hannah Reece is so independent with her self-care and I am grateful for that!  However, today I told her that I wanted to "serve" her by doing her nails and toenails and blow drying her hair.  After me begging and pleading, she relented.  ;)  Some days I still can't believe that the Lord entrusted me with daughters.  They are wonderfully made!  (Side note:  Hannah Reece picked out her first pair of "heels" for her Easter sandals this year.  Clickety-clack!)

In the kids' baskets:
-Girls: their favorite stuffed animals with the giant eyes, sticker/activity books, kit kat candy bar
-Graham:  A digging for gold set, 1st Mad Libs Activity book, kit kat candy bar
This year, we put one egg in each child's basket with a Bible verse inside, specially selected to pray for them over the course of the next year. Top:  Hannah Reece, Middle:  Graham, Bottom: Millie

On the evening of Easter Sunday (after the sacred napping hours :)  we headed over to Nana and Papa's for some fun and dinner. Millie got a little "head start" on the hunting this year.

Nana filled the eggs with puzzle pieces and the kids went to town putting the puzzle together when we came back inside.  I think it was a picture of Jesus calming the sea.

 Big momma and skinny minnie daddy!  Dan has lost over 50 pounds since last August.  I am so proud of him!  He is shrinking and I am growing.  :)

Grandma and Grandpa decided to have an Easter celebration the following weekend (and I forgot to pack my camera).  They asked us all to put on our Easter Sunday best and played the video from their Holy Land trip from two years ago.  The kids had a mini-egg hunt inside since it was nighttime and we had snacks together.

Easter Sunday 2013

Whatcha been up to?

I often ask other folks that question!  Here's a little of what we've been up to this week.

When a song comes on that Camille is rocking out to, she makes faces (similar to this one) and lip-syncs the words, it is the funniest thing!

Graham and Hannah Reece are my official dish unloaders, and they do an AWESOME job.  I am so grateful for their help!

I have been working on storing up some freezer meals this week, doubling and tripling some simple favorites. I know things will be a little hectic when I first come home with Lydia, so having some meals "ready to go" should help lighten the load a bit at dinner time, and maybe it'll keep us from eating take-out so much. So far I've made Sweet 'n Sour Chicken, bean, meat and cheese burritos, and later today I'm making Spaghetti Casserole and Chicken Curry.

Speaking of meals, this is Millie's favorite, basic black beans and rice with shredded cheese and a dollup of sour cream on top.  She'll even ask for it at breakfast some days.  Dinner is such a proper occassion around here.  ;)

our little helper

Millie loves to help.  Whether it's spreading butter on a piece of toast, folding a towel, or mixing up something special in the kitchen, she's game!  Today she's helping me take some letters to the mailbox.  

Such a big girl!

March Miscellany

Between being pregnant, finishing up our Classical Conversations year, enjoying the beautiful weather and lots of birthdays, March FLEW by!

Playdough was a hit this month.  The girls made many creations.  Here are some of Reecie's favorites.

We are not big network TV watchers (mostly Netflix shows for us), but the month of March is the exception.  Basketball has been our background noise for much of the month.  :)

The kids made these awesome models at CC that show the layers of the earth + the layers of the earth's atmosphere, both were included in our Science memory work.

Daddy helped everyone fill out their own March Madness bracket.  My alma-mater FGCU made it to the sweet 16...very exciting times for our little town to be all over the news media.  They've nicknamed Fort Myers "Dunk City".  Not bad for a school that's only 16 years old.   

 I was not loyal in my bracket, however, and went "chalk" for the winning bracket. Winner gets to pick a family fun day after Lydia is born.  Hmmm, what shall we do?  :)

More basketball!

 On Logan's birthday, he asked me to take these pics and tell anyone who messes with Lydia "they can have some of this from her cousin Logan".  :)  He is so excited about her!  Always running up to give my belly big hugs and says "I just can't wait for Lydia Kate!!" Sweet cousin.

Graham is blazing through books these days.  His favorite series is Encyclopedia Brown and he can burn through 2 or 3 each day if he has enough free time.  Enclopedia Brown with a little Star Wars on top.  :)

Come, let us worship the LORD!

We can worship the LORD in so many ways, inside and outside of the church building.  This month, the kids have had some special opportunities to serve and participate in corporate worship at church.  Here's Hannah Reece, an old pro with the palm branch on Palm Sunday.  I loved hearing the girls that morning singing a song they learned at Community Bible Study earlier in the week:

"Ho-ho-ho-Hosannah, 

A-a-allelujah, 

He-he-he-HE saved me,

I love HIM!"

 Millie's first time to participate in Palm Sunday, Daddy was rounding up a small palm just for her when I took this picture.  :)

 Graham and cousin Logan attended acolyte training this month, a special opportunity for children ages 9 and up.  It was so special to see these boys serve the LORD by lighting the candles as worship began on Resurrection Sunday.

Sweet Sabbath

Dan has been leading a study for parents for the last few Wednesdays on Sabbath Keeping.  Although it is a commandment from God to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy", we, too, have fallen way short of keeping an entire day set aside for holy rest, re-creating and re-energizing as God intended for our benefit.  When I think of how we live as a culture, constantly moving, sick, angry, overwhelmed and full of anxiety...it is hard and almost counter-cultural to keep one day a week set apart and sacred to rest.  But we are working on it, because it's what God has in mind for our protection and benefit. We are all beginning to look forward to this day with great anticipation!   

So, our Sabbath is ususally a Friday or a Saturday (mostly Friday) since that is Dan's day "off".  

These are a few of the restful, restorative activities we enjoy:

Dan blows up the big air mattress and we keep it out all day long as a landing area for snuggling, reading, watching a movie together, just hanging out.  The kids love this spot.  No jumping allowed!  :)

Creating.  Baking, cooking, working on  a sticker creation, scrapbooking (physical or digital), play do, Lego or some type of arts and crafts activity, these are energizing and restful activities to our family.

Reading books.  Being outdoors.  A trip to the park, or for Daddy, a little landscaping can be restful and fun. 

A few of Reecie's play do creations. 

Look what I made, Graham!

And some of us prefer people watching out the front window.  :)